Clear link between marriage and financial stability, says think tank

The role of marriage is often ignored in discussions on economic inequality, a religious think tank has said.

‘Beyond Left and Right: Finding Consensus on Economic Inequality’, was written by Theos Senior Researcher, Hannah Rich.

She said that there are “recognised links between family structures and poverty, and the role this plays in both poverty and inequality is significant”.

‘Significant’

The report noted “evidence that family structure has an impact on educational outcomes, with some studies suggesting that children in single parent families fare worse in literacy and numeracy tests”.

Theos acknowledged that the evidence does not prove causation, but said it does “underline that relational stability is a significant aspect of financial stability”.

Education

Last year, the Centre for Social Justice said the Government should “stop pretending” that cohabitation and marriage are equally beneficial.

A report by the leading think tank stated that marriage delivers significantly better outcomes when compared to cohabitation, even “when controlling for income and education”.

Over the past decade, the number of cohabiting couples with dependent children has increased by over a quarter in the UK, and it is now the “fastest growing family type”.